
WhlTETHROATED BEE EATER
MEROPS ALBICOLLIS.
M E R O P S A L B I C O L L I S.
"WHITE-NECKED BEE-EATER
Le Gufpier a gorge blanche ou le Gvtpter Cuiier, Levaill. Hist. Nat. Guep. p. 37, pi. « . (1807).
Merop* allncoU;*, Vieill. NOHT. Diet. n r . p. 15 (1816), Vieill. Tabl. Encycl.' ct Method, p." 393 (1820) • Gray
G c n . o f B . i . p . 80 (1810); Strickland, P . Z . S . 1850, p. 216; Bp. Consp. Gen. AT. i. p. 161 (1850); von'
Miill. J . f. Orn. 1835, p. 1 0 ; Hartlanb, Orn. W.-Afr. p. 39 (1857) j Schlegel, Miu, Pay.-Ba., Menpi, p. 5
(1863); Hcuglin, J. f. O. 1804, p. 3 3 4 ; Sharpe, Ibis, 1869, p. 192; Heugl. Orn. N.O.-Afr. i. p. 201 (18C9);
G. R. Gray, IIand-1. of B . i. p. 99, no. 1209 (1869) j Blanford, Geol. & Zool. of Abyss, p. 321 (1870); Finsch
& Hartlanb, Vog. Ost-Afr. p. 186 (1870); Finsch, Trans. Zool. Soc. vii. p. 221 (1870); Shelley & Hucklcy,
Ibis, 1872, p. 286 ; Sharpe, P. Z. S. 1873, p. 7 1 2 ; Uwhcr, Ibis, 1874, p. 4 8 ; Reichcnow, J. f. 0 . 1875, p. 18;
Nicholson, P. Z. S. 1878, p. 355 ; Boeagc, Orn. d'Angola, p. 89 (1881).
Merop* cwieri, Licht. Vers. Doubl. p. 15 (1823); Lesson, Traite d'Orn. p. 238 (1831); Smith, S. Afr. Quart.
Jonrn. 2nd scr. part ii. p. 320 (1834) ; Licht. Nomencl. Av. p. 66 (1854).
Merop* savignyi, Swains. Zool. Illustr. ii. pi. Ixsvi. (1821-22, nec Aud.).
Aerops albicollis (Vieill.), Rcichcnb. Mcropinai, p. 82 (1852); Cab. Mus. Heiu. ii. p. 137 (1859-60).
Figures notabiles.
Levaillaut, Hist. Nat. Guep. pi. i i . ; Swainson, Zool. Illustr. ii. pi. bam.
IlAn. Africa, from Khartoum to Zanzibar, and Scucgambia to Angola.
Ad. pilco, fascid per oeulos ductft et torque pectorali nigris, hoc subtiis c.-eruleo raarginato: froatc, gula et supcrciliis
albis : corporc supril viridi-carnilco tincto: nucha sordide aurantincil: uropygio ct cauda ca;ruleis r
rcmigibus rufescentihus cxtiis viridi tinctis: primariis intcrnis et secundariis nigro tcrminatis; corporc
Bubtiis albido viridi tincto : rostro nigro : iride coccincfl : pedibus fuscis.
Juv. sonlidior : rcctricibus eentralibus nec clongatis : gula sulphurco tiucta, torque pectorali nigro nee carulco
marginato.
Adult male (Eylet, Abyssinia).—Crown, a broad stripe through the eye, and a broad hand
across the throat deep black ; lower nape and fore part of the back apple-green, with a golden
orange tinge; rest of the upper parts green tinged with blue ; quills rufous, externally margined
with green, all except the first three or four broadly terminated with black, the elongated inner
secondaries being, however, except at the base, almost entirely blue; tail bluo with a faint greenish
tinge, the central rcctrices much elongated and attenuated; forehead, a broad band over the eye,
and the upper throat white ; the black hand across the throat bordered below with bluo; underpays
otherwise white, tinged, chiefly on the breast and flanks, with green; bill black ; feet dull
brownish ; iris red. Total length about 1 1 inches, culmen 1-5, wing 42, tail 70, central
rcctrices extending 3 5 inches beyond the lateral ones, tarsus 0G2.